BOSTON — The Addison County Independent’s advertising department took top honors in advertising excellence among the largest non-daily newspapers in New England at the New England Newspaper Press Association (NENPA) annual conference held in Boston this past weekend. In addition to five other first place awards and three second place awards in advertising, the Independent won first in Advertising General Excellence.

NENPA represents more than 400 newspapers in the six state region from the large dailies in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticutt to the smallest papers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“We’re excited to be named the top in our class for advertising excellence,” said the Advertising Manager Christy Lynn. “We work hard all year creating the best marketing campaigns possible for our customers, and it’s great to see that work honored by professional judges and our peers. We have a great team in sales, and we work with really talented colleagues in our graphics department to make targeted campaigns that work for area businesses.”

The Independent won a total of 21 awards, in advertising and news coverage, with six first place awards in advertising and five first-place awards in news coverage. Its sister publication in Killington, The Mountain Times, won four awards, including a first place in niche publication for its annual mountain biking publication, Grip.

Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine and Vermont Sports, both regional magazines distributed throughout New England and published by Addison Press, won five awards, including first as the best Niche Publication in New England for Vermont Ski & Ride Magazine.

“We’re always thrilled to be honored with awards,” publisher Angelo Lynn said of the 30-plus awards earned by the small group of publications, “but what’s even more important is the continual feedback we get from our readers and the merchants we work with week in and week out. We continue to work hard at producing products — newspapers and magazines — that not only inform our readers, but do so in a compelling way — all the while working to make our communities and our democracy stronger.”

The Addison Independent, The Reporter (which covers Brandon, Pittsford, Proctor and West Rutland), Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine and Vermont Sports are all published by Addison Press Inc. in Middlebury.

Awards presented to the group were as follows:

ADVERTISING:

• First place, Advertiser Campaign, a series of ads on one theme for Bradford Kitchen & Bath; judges comment: “Lively engaging campaign using great lifestyle images to highlight the use of kitchen cabinetry products. Really nice!” The award went to Christy Lynn and graphic designer Elsie Lynn Parini.
• First, Health Ad, for a full-page on the COVID Guide for UVMHC Porter Hospital; judge’s comment: “Well-designed ad, effective layout with important info.” The award went to Christy Lynn and staff.
• First, Best Holiday Ad, Middlebury Discount Beverage, judge’s comment: “Entire ad is a coupon offer. Well-designed, good typography, clear messaging to consumer. Winner!” Award went to Christy Lynn and staff. Second place in that category also went to the Addison Independent for its ad for United Way of Addison County; judge’s comment: “Strong central image. Great headline. Good ad!”
• First, Best Integrated Campaign for an Advertiser, for Opera Company of Middlebury, Candide; judge’s comment: “Fun. Great image and use of images throughout all formats of ads.” Award went to Christy Lynn and Elsie Lynn Parini.
• First, Local Display, Color, Marquis Theater; awarded to, Christy Lynn and staff; judge’s comment: “Dynamic central image makes this ad successful. Good type design as well.”
• First, Advertising General Excellence, Addison County Independent for large non-daily newspapers of over 6,000 circulation.
• Second place, Excellence in Revenue Collaboration and Partnerships for the newspaper’s COVID Resource Guide; judge’s comment: “The strong partnership with the local hospital, public schools, and college made this resource guide possible. The shared resources and costs to inform and prepare community members make this a huge win for all.”
• Second, Local Display, Black and White for Middlelbury Frameshop & Gallery, Christy Lynn and staff.
• Second, Local Online Ad for Frog Hollow by Sydney Starkman and Sarah Pope; judge’s comment: “Cropped Santa image drives readability of this well-done web ad.”
• First place, Real Estate Display Ad, The Mountain Times, awarded to Krista Johnston.

NEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY:

• First, Execellence in Newsroom Collaboration and Partnerships; awarded to John McCright, Lindsay Repka and Middlebury College students, on a COVID series and a cancer series; judge’s comment: “Congratulations to the Addison County Independent for creating a successful partnership with biochemistry students to inform their readers about COVID. Extending this relationship to cover other health issues, like the Cancer series, is genius.”
• First, Multimedia Coverage, John McCright, Lindsay Repka and Middlebury students, Covid and Community.
• First, Political Columnist, Eric Davis of the Addison Independent, combined class of weeklies and dailies; judge’s comment: “Nothing like clear, crisp explanations that inform the reader to make for a solid bi-weekly column. Plainly put, I want the professor to provide me weekly lessons. Political columnists can be predictable in the right or left leaning prose. Or they can educate the reader to be better citizens. This column is the latter and is really a joy to read.”
• First, Sports Action Photo, Steve James, Eagle softball.
• First, Sports Story, Andy Kirkaldy, for his story on “Gritty Eagles earn their three-peat in shootout.”
• First, The Mountain Times, Covid Guides; awarded to Polly Lynn and Jay Mikula; judges’s comment: “Kudos to The Mountain Times for this much-needed guide to educate the public! The desitgn is attractive (even fun) and the information is relevant and presented clearly.”
• Second, Feature Video, award to Addison Independent’s Megan James, for “The CocoaPort.” Judge’s comment: “Creative and heart-warming — displayed the enduring human spirit around the holidays during COVID.”
• Second, Local Election Coverage, Addison Independent’s local voter guide and outcome coverage.
• Second, Outstanding Newsletter, Megan James and Addison Independent staff for MiniBury — this was in a combined category with the Berkshire Eagle taking first, and VtDigger taking third.
• Third, Personality Photo, Steve James of the Addison Independent, Lake Dunmore ice-fishing Derby.
• Third, Editorial Page, Addison Independent.

SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS:

• First, Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine, Best Niche Publication; awarded to Lisa Lynn, Angelo Lynn, David Pollard (designer); judge’s comment: “Excellent niche publication — exceptional photography and editorial content.” In that same category, placing second was Vermont Sports (in a tie with Nantucket Magazine), with Lisa and Angelo Lynn and designer Shawn Braley; judge’s comment: “This publication knows its audience and serves it well! This is a must read for athletes living in, or visiting, Vermont.”
• First, Front Page (cover), Vermont Ski + Ride, awarded to David Pollard, Lisa Lynn (competing with Boston Business Journal, 2nd; Providence (RI) Business News, 3rd.)
• Second, Overall Design and Presentation of a Niche Product, Vermont Ski + Ride, awarded to David Pollard; Third place went to The Mountain Times, Polly Lynn, Krista Johnston for their mountain bike publication, Grip. (Stowe Magazine took first, a Vermont sweep.)
• Third, General Excellence, Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine. First place was Boston Business Journal, second was Providence Business News.